It's been just over two weeks since we landed in Detroit. Though our activity is not at the level of our travels, things keep getting done. We've made the two major purchases for our new adventure. Putting the cart before the horse, first was the fifth-wheel trailer, a 29 (or so, measuring methods vary) foot long 2008 Cougar, weighing in at a svelte 8500 lbs. I don't want to divulge prices, but it was a bit of a bargain. It's designed to be pulled by a half-ton truck. The idea of pulling this load up mountain passes made me (and all my brothers, emphatically) with a 5.3 liter engine a bit nervous. We spent days combing new and used car dealers and had almost settled on a new Chevy 3/4 ton with a 6 liter gas engine but not quite equipped the way we wanted. After a round of golf at Grand Ledge Country Club (a course I've played for (ohmygod) 50 years) we stopped at, of all things, a Buick dealership that was on the way home. Out front stood a dusty black 3/4 ton Chevy equipped exactly the way I'd envisioned. Well, this is worth a look. Just a bit pricey, especially since it's a 2007. Oh, look, it's a Diesel! 40,000, can that be the correct mileage on a 5-year old truck? The only dents are in the bed. The trailer hitch and big outside mirrors bear witness to the use a truck this size should have. Quick phone call to my brother Ted, who has a couple of diesels in his past. A few tips on what to look for. It all lines up and the Carfax shows no accidents or unusual repair work. Test drive. I had no idea a diesel could be a hot rod. Not with the hopped-up car's twitchy rump-rump but with a smooth flow of power that builds with astonishing speed despite the fact that the thing weighs somewhat more than 3 tons. So at a not quite ruinous cost we've got the most important pieces. Lots more little pieces to buy, generator, extra spare for the trailer, hitch, etc., but it's already mostly there.
We've been staying with my brother Fred and his wife Pat. Thanks again for your hospitality! They've been wonderful hosts and we'll never forget it. Really convenient, my parents live in back of them and my brother Ted and his wife Nancy are across the street. In a couple of months, my daughter will be moving into the house next to Ted. Definitely a family affair, my parent's home is the one we moved into when I was 12. In fact, I'm the only one who's lived more than 20 or so miles away with the possible exception of my sister Ann and her husband Tom, who live way over in Westphalia which is where the Thelen clan originated. At one time half the Westphalia phone book was Thelen and the Lansing phone book had two pages of us. In fact, we won't leave until after Father's Day, the traditional male-bonding weekend at Ted's trailer up north.
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(Top) Mike's siblimgs, Ted, Ann, Fred, Dan and Mike
Mom and Dad (seated) Father's Day 2005 |
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| Mix of grandchildren, grandnieces, grandnephews, etc. |
Our plans? Right now, they're pretty nebulous. Something like "get south of Chicago, turn right and pull the trigger". For sure, every available national park will be on the agenda, probably along with overnights in Walmart parking lots, the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota (thanks, Wierd Al Yankovich), roadside museums and tourist traps and every inexpensive golf course we can find. My mother made a fine suggestion that we really must go through the Black Hills of South Dakota. Any suggestions? Feel free.
